Use & Management of Containers

While hazardous waste is being treated, stored, or disposed of, it must be safely contained. For this reason, containers are the most commonly used hazardous waste storage unit. There are a wide variety of containers. The RCRA definition of containers is broader than what we typically think of as a container. In this context, containers include any portable device that is used to store, transport, treat, or handle hazardous waste. Some examples of containers are as follows:

• Large tanker trucks
• Railroad cars
• 55-gallon drums
• Small buckets
• Test tubes

Since containers come into direct contact with hazardous wastes and form a barrier between the wastes and the rest of the facility, the RCRA regulations require high safety standards for containers. The regulations in 40 CFR 265, Subpart I, apply to all hazardous waste facilities that store containers of hazardous waste.

To learn more about RCRA visit our RCRA Hazardous Waste Safety Online Training web page.